Having once said “a military life had no charms to me,” U.S. Grant entered West Point to get through the course, secure a detail for a few years as assistant professor of mathematics at the Academy, and afterwards obtain a permanent position as professor at some respectable college. But the course his life took was quite different. Little did he ever dream that he would serve with distinction in the Mexican War, lead the Union to victory in the Civil War, and struggle through eight years as President of the United States.

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Publisher's Summary

In this stunning biography, William McFeely brings us a thoroughly compelling story of a tangled life.

Having once said “a military life had no charms to me,” U.S. Grant entered West Point to get through the course, secure a detail for a few years as assistant professor of mathematics at the Academy, and afterwards obtain a permanent position as professor at some respectable college. But the course his life took was quite different. Little did he ever dream that he would serve with distinction in the Mexican War, lead the Union to victory in the Civil War, struggle through eight years as President of the United States, and wage bitter personal battles against alcoholism, insolvency, and cancer.

Robert E. Lee fought for the perpetuation of human bondage; U.S. Grant occasionally drank alcohol. If you think these things balance themselves out, this is the book for you! You'll hear more about alleged unsubstantiated benders than you will about the Battle of Shiloh. There will also be cringe-worthy attempts at pseudo psychology to impugn General Grant's ability and motives in every chapter. Apparently all you had to do to win a Pulitzer Prize three decades ago was write a scholarly sounding hatchet job that you self declare as balanced in your own epilogue. It was a very disappointing book.

While I don't blame the author for U.S. Grant's boring presidency I do blame him for telling it in such a yawnworthy way. While in depth about the presidency it felt like an ice pick going into my ocular socket. Great early life through presidential election boring afterwords though. Narrator was good but editing was horrible......maybe audible should have a editing rating i have heard some crazy things on some audiobooks.

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